Machiete-guk moot



C. D. WITHERUW.

MACHINE GUN MOUNT.

APPLICATON FILED AUG-16.1915.

Patented Aug. 29, 1916.

3 SHEETS-SHEET l.

lai-969197@ r Eg/Z I In] l I l l I Ng/W y www ffomey C. D, WITHEROW.

MACHINE GUN MOUNT.

APPLICATION FILED ALIG.I6. 1915. Y Lwgw?, Paten-red Aug. 29,1916.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

, I' if @Za/ri@ Ff/Mw WITNESSES. I INVENTOR New@ v @e C. D. WlTHEROW.

MACHINE GUN MOUNT.

AEPLJCYATION, FILED AUG.I6,1915.

M1. 96u97., PatentedAug,29,1916.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

29 \llllllllll MACHIE-GN MOUNT.,'

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Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Aug. 29, 3.1916.

.application filed August 16, 1915. Seria1.I\To. 45,772.

o all whom if may concern.'

Be it known that i, CLARK D. 1lVITI-renew, a citizen of the UnitedStates, residing at Brookville7 in the county of Jederson and State efPennsylvania, have invented a new and useful filachine-Grun Mount., ofwhich the following is a specification.

This invention has vreference to machine gun mounts and is designed moreparticuiarly to provide a light portable mount for the purpose wherebythe operator has control over the mount in a manner to vary theeievation and sweep of the gun at will and to lock the gun in anydesired elevation so that on obtaining a range accuracy of aim is notinterfered with because of unsteadiness or nervousness on the part ofthe operator.

n accordance with the present.invention the gun is provided with atripod to insure a broad, firm base,v while the gun supporting portionof the mount is capable of being raised orlowered in the tripodthroughout a considerable extent. The element of the mount directlysupporting the gun is furnished with both forward and rear shockabsorbers and with a rockable portion and a 'may be elevated to andbeyond the vertical,

such degree of elevation being advantageous when tiring at aeroplanesand the like. Provision is made for the quick mounting'or demounting ofthe gun and for meeting certain conditions, especially'suchas are met infiring at a high angle.l

The invention will be best understood from a consideration of thefollowing del tailed description7 taken in connection with theaccompanying drawings forming part of this specification, with thefurther understanding that while the drawingsv show a practical forni ofthe invention, the latter is' not confined to any strict conformity withthe showing of the drawings, but maybe changed and modified so long assuch changes and modifications come within the scope of the appendedclaims.

lin the drawings: Figure l is an elevation with some partsin section ofthe gun mount with a machine gun thereon, and showing in dotted linesthe extreme position of elevation. Fig. 2 S a Vertical section with somestruted `to readilypass through; the Open@ im,

parts in elevation of 'a portion of the gun mount of Fig. l but viewedfrom the opposite side and drawn on a larger scale. Fig. 3 is a sectionon the line 3 3 of Fig. 2. Fig. '4 is a section on the line 4 4 of Fig.l. Fig. 5 is a section similar to'and of a fragment of the showing ofFig. 2 but drawn on a larger scale and illustrating some parts hidden`in Fig. 2. Fig. 6 is a section on the line 6 6 of Fig. 5 with the racksegment omitted. Fig. 7 isa section on the line 7 7 of Fig. 5. Fig. is abottom plan view on the scale of Fig. 5 of a fragment of theI racksegment and the latch blocks for holding the segment in adjustedpositions. Fig. 9 is a perspective view of a portion of a lock` bar forcontrolling the latch arm in turn controlling the latch blocks. Fig. 10yis a perspective view of a flat connecting bolt for connecting the gunsupporting member to the mount. Fig. 11 is a bottom plan View of a seatfor-the operator. Fig. l2 is an elevation ofl another form of gunsupporting member. Fior. 13 is a section on the line 13 13 of Fig. 12.

Referring tothe drawings there is shown a machine gun l without anyattempt to show any of the mechanism of the gun or any particular typeof such gun, since the present invention has nothing to do with anparticular form of machine gun.

ln Fig. l anda'ssociated figures the gun l is carried by a supportingmember in the vform of a cradle 2, the gun being provided with side ribs3 slidable in grooves 4 in the cradle and with an elongated ear 5adapted to seat in a. groove Gin a 'block 7. The ea'r 5 and block 7 onopposite sides of the groove 6 have matching passages for the receptionof aflat connecting bolt S whereby the ear and block are removablysecured together.

At one end the connecting bolt is formed with a finger piece 9 suitablyshaped for grasping, and adjacentto the finger Ap iece the bolt has alug or shoulder 10 limiting its movement in traversing relation to theblock 7. At the end of the bolt 8 remote from the handle 9 threis hingeda flap 11 which when the bolt is in traversing relation to the block 7hangs pendently and so prevents accidental withdrawal of the bolt,

but does not interfere with ,the withdrawal of the bolt purposely, sincethe flap 1l may be readily alined. with the bolt and is .con-

ings in the block 7 and ear 5 designed to be traversed by the bolt.

The block 7 is adapted to an elongated channel 12 in one edge of a bar13 connecting the ends of a segmental rack 14 of somewhat greater extentthan 180. The bar .L3 is arranged 'to one side of the diameter of therack so as to be on that side of the-axis of the rack remote from themain body of said rack. The bar 13 has the channel 12 on that side ofthe bar remote from the rack and extending between two spaced lugs 14projecting from the channel edge or side of the bar 13. The channel 12is formed with a central longitudinal groove 15 in which is seated atongue 1G on the block v7. Extending through the lugs 14a and alsothrough the b.ock 7 is a rod 17 having a head 18 at one end and threadedto receive a nut 19 at the other end, but it will be understood thatthis rod which is designed to guide and retain the block 7 in thechannel 12 may be otherwise formed. The space between the adjacent facesof the lugs 14a is considerably greater than the length of the block 7and this block is normally centralized with relation to the lugs bycoiled springs 20 surrounding the rod- 17 and each abutting a lug 14nand the corresponding end of the block 7. The urpose of the springs 20is to take up recoil of the gun and also Athe rebound thereof so thatwhen the gun is in action violent motion is practically eliminated andsteadiness of aim is correspondingly obtained.

T he bar 13 and spokes 21 of the rack 14 radiate from a hub 22 mountedon a pivot pin or bolt 23 carried by adjacent substantially parallelstandards 24, 25, respectively, rising from a base 2G having an axialtapered neck 27 on the side ofthe base remote from the standards 24.Moreover, the standards or posts 24 are located near one edge of thebase 26, whereby the posts or standards and the pivot 23 are eccentricto the longitudinal axis of the neck 27.

The base 2G rests upon a circular flange 23 in radial relation to a cup29 receiving the neck 27 and having its interior similarly tapered sothat the neck has an elongated and snug yet free bearing in the cup.`The flange 28 is formed adjacent to the cup with a circumferentialgroove 30 to provide for certain parts carried by the base 26 So thattheV base and parts carried thereby may be rotated in the cup withoutinterference.

llxtending axially from the cup and pro- \f*iding a support for the sameis a stem 31, which stem is of non-eir cular shape and preferablytriangular in cross-section although not necessarily so. The stem is ofsuitable length, which in practice may approximate two feet more orless, and traverses a tripod head 32 having a triangular passage 33 forthe stem 31|.

to which they are connected by pivot pins v39. 0f course it will beunderstood that any suitable means for connecting the tripod legs to thehead, other than those described, mry be employed. Each leg is hollowfor the sake of .lightness and terminates at the end remote from thehead 32 in angle spurs 40 and at the junction of each spur with therespective leg there is provided a laterally extended plate 41 designedto rest upon the supporting surface with the spur entering the supportto thereby prevent displacement of the tripod leg.

The head 32 has a set screw 42 tapped therethrough in position to clampagainst the stem 3l and the screw 42 is provided with an angle handle 43or other means for its manipulation. -That end of the stem 31 remotefrom the cup 29 may be pointed as indicated at 44, so that if desiredthe stem may be forced into the ground and so con-V stitute a supportfor the gun in the absence of the tripod.

The leg 37 is made longerrtlian the legs 3G, so that when the head 32isapproximately level the leg 37 makes a more acute angle with the groundthan the other legs and is utilized to carry a seat' 45 with` anextension 46 at one end provided with an elongated opening 47therethrough shaped to clamp on the leg 37 with -the seat projectingtherefrom, but so related to the leg 37 that the seat is readily move/dalong the leg to any position of adjustment.

lVith gun mounted as so far described and with the manipulating end ofthe gun on the same side of the upright axis of the mount as the postsor standards 24, the gun may be moved about the longitudinal axis of theneck 27 to any degree desired and the gun may be elevated or loweredabout the axis of the pivot 23 from a. point far below the horizoncompletely to the zenith and for a few degrees beyond the zenith, thislatter position being made possible with the gun close to the pivot 23by the out of center or eccentric position of the posts 24 and 25.Because ofthe relatively great extent of rise and fall permitted by thelength of the stem 31 the gun may be arranged in a comparatively lowposition for approximately horizontal shooting and may bc elevated to arelatively high lposition for vertical shooting, in which latter caseample room is provlded for the operator to sight 'vertically and for aShort distance on the' operator side of the vertical. This provides anespecially valuable feature in the event of shooting at aeroplanes orother air vessels, since the operator is enabled to obtain maaier madefor locking thepgun in any desired position ,of elevation within theentire range of movement from' apoint below the horizon to the zenithand beyond the zenith.

I The rack segment 14 isprovided with a central peripheral rib or web 48on opposite ysides of which are two rows of sockets 49,

50, respectively, with the sockets of onevrow in staggered relation tothose of the. other row. Furthermore, the socketsare separated by ledgesor plateaus 51 each of which may .v have a breadth about the same asthat of a socket. The arrangement issuch that each ,socket has one edgeopposite the middle portion 'cfa plateau between two sockets onA theother side of the web 48 of the segment and the other edge opposite the"mid point of a socket on the other side of the web.

The head 26 has a ledge 52 between the posts 24 and 25, and this ledgeis curved in conformity with the curvature of the rack segment 14 sothat the plateaus or teeth 51 vcome into close vrelation to the-curvedpoi'- tion of the ledge. Extending longitudinally ot the ledge is arecess 53 conforming in position to the web 48. This recess has lodgedin it a radial latch arm'54 mounted on one end of a rock shaft 55journaled inthe head 26'and-extendin to one side of one of the yposts atwhich point it has attached to it .a radial arm 56 rising from the axiso t the shaft 55 so ,as to rock across one face of the corresponding'post. The arm 56 is 'arranged adjacent to a curved plate 57 having asingle `notch 57a'therein. The curvature of the plate 57 is on an archaving the axis of the shaft 55 as its center and the arm 56 carries alock bar 58 movable lengthwise or the arm and provided with a laterallyextended angle nose 59 formin between it 'and the bar a recess 69 intowhich the plate 457 engages. rlhe arm l56 is suitably recessed tocontain and guide the lock bar with the extension of the nose end 59which projects to one side of the arm 56 and the bar 58 is .Y urgedtoward the plate 57 -by a spring 61 vhoused in the arm 56.

At the end of the bar 58 remote from the nose 59 the bar is providedwith a notch 62 into, which is received-one end 63 of a pivoted latchlever 64 carried by the arm 56 in readily accessible position. The endof the arm 56 remote from the shaft 55 is provided with a handle bymeans of which the arm 56 may be rocked as desired, while the latchlever 64 is so positioned with respect to the handle l* 65 that it maybe manipulated by the saine hand operating the arm 56 and at the sametime.

The recess 53 leads at one end into another recess 66 extendinglaterally of the recess 53 and deeper into the head 26. This spring 72tending at all times to move the block toward the rack segment 14 /wherein the path of the block. Each block 67 to 70 is providedwith alaterally' extended tongue 73 in positionto be engaged by that end ofthe latch arm 54 remote from the shaft 55. The blocks 67 to 70 arearranged in Apairs on opposite sides of the web 48 with the tongues 73of one pair of blocks projecting toward the similar tongues or the otherpair of blocks and underriding the web 48 and at the same time beingoverridden by the free end of the arm 54. rlhese latch blocks or dogs 67to 70 are of such site that any one or" the blocks will enter acorresponding one of the sockets 49 or 50, as thel case may be, betweentwoadjacent plateaus or teeth 51. Because of the staggered arrangementof the sockets and the even arrangement of the blocks but one block at atime can enter a socket in the rack segment. Assuming, for instance,that the block 69 is lodged in a socket 50 in the showing of' Fig. 8,the block 70 will be on the next adl jacent plateau 51, while the twoblocks 67 and 68 both engage upon the same plateau and hence neither canenter a socketv 49. The movement of the rack segment 14 to the extent ofhalf the width of asocket 49 or 50 from the position shown in F ig. 8will cause another one of the dogs to enter a correspoiliding socket.-1t is thusv possible Vto adjust the. gun carriage by the mount.

y socket.

The tendency of the springs 72 is to move i sockets 49 or 50 is inthepath of the dog controlled by the spring 72 under consideration. ln anyevent a very slight rocking movement of the segment 14 will bring aboutthe conditions'perinitting a dog to enter a socket 49 or 50, whereby thegun vmount is locked against movement about the pivot 23.

lil/'hein however, the,lock bar 58 is engaged in the notch 57a the latcharm 54 is then in such position that all the dogs 67 to 70 are movedinpa direction against the action of the springs 72 and away from therack segment 14. Under such circumstances the gun may be rocked on thepivot 23 at the will of the operator and Without interference from thelocking means. The latch arm 54 is in line with the web 4.8 so that atno time can it engage any one of the sockets 49 and 50. That end of thebar 13 toward the stock end of the gun is beveled lengthwise, as shownat 7 3, so that when the rack segment is rocked from the horizontalbeyond the zenith it may be there locked by the'latch dogs engaging thebeveled portion 73, since this beveled portion is then nearer to theaxis of rotation of the head 27 than are the dogs.

In Figs. 12 and 13 there is shown a block 74C slidable in oppositelydisposed channel members 75 carried by and formed with the lugs 14?. Theblock 74 carries a gun 1a which may be of a different type :tromthe gun1 requiring a somewhat different carrier.

The gun mount shown and described -is adapted to various types oimachine guns and the only change that is necessary in most instances isto appropriately construct the gun supporting member.

What is claimed is 1. ,A machine gun mount, comprising a support havinga substantially upright pivotal axis and provided W'ith upstandmg meansthereon to one. side of said pivotal axis, another pivotal supportmounted on the upper end of the npstanding means upon a substantiallyhorizontal axis and to one side of the upright axis, and means forlocking the second-named pivotal support-upon its axis, said meansengaging said second support upon the same side of the upright axis asthe horizontal axis of said second. support, whereby the second-namedpivotal support is movable to velevate the gun progressively to andbeyond the zenith.

2. A machine 'gun mount, comprising a pivotal support on which the gunmay be turned about an upright axis, another pivotal supportparticipating in the turning movements of the first support andpermitting movements of the gun for elevation, the pivotal axis of thesecond-named support. being eccentric to the pivotal axis of thefirst-named support, and means for locking the second support on itspivotal axis and located on the same side of the upright pivotal axis asthe pivotal axis of the second support, whereby said second-namedsupport may have a range of ymovement to direct the gun to a point belowthe horizon and then moved progressively to and beyond the zenith.

3. A machine gun mount, comprising a rotatable head movable about asubstantially upright axis, a support erected on the head to one side ofthe axis of rotation of the head, carrying means for the gun on saidsupport and mounted thereon to move about a substantially horizontalaxis, and means on the head for locking the carrying means for the gunand located on the same side of the upright pivotal axis of the head as,the support erected on the latter, whereby the carrying means for thegun may be moved progressively on a substantially horizontal axislto andbeyond the zenith.

4. A machine gun mount comprising a rotatable head movable about asubstantially upright axis, a support erected on the head eccentric tothe axis of rotation, and carrying means forthe gun on said supporterected on the head and movable on a substantially horizontal axis, saidcarrying means being provided with a device for positively locking it indifferent positions of adjustment about its substantially horizontalaxis and said locking device being provided With means for positivelyholding it in a position to release the carrying means kfor freemovement about a substantially horizontal axis.

5. A machine gun mount comprising a member movable about anupright axis,a rack segment carried by said member and rockable about a substantiallyhorizontal axis eccentric to the first-named axis and provided withmeans for carrying the gun, and locking means for the rack segmentmounted on the first-named member and movable to lock and release therack at will,

said locking means having means for positively holding it in the p0,rtion for releasing the rack.

6. A machine gun mount, comprising two members one mounted for sweepingmovements of the gun and the other carried by the irst-named member andmounted for elevation of the gun, the axis of movement of thesecond-named member bein eccentric to that of the first-named mem er,and means for locking the second-named mem` ber carried by thefirst-named member on the same side of the axis of the first-namedmember as' the axis vof the second-named member, whereby the gun has arange of 'progressive movement suicient to move the messer to one sideof the axis of the pivotal support of the lirst-named member, and meansfor locking vthe 'second-named member located on the same side ot' thepivotal axis of the first-named member as the pivotal axis of thesecond-named member, whereby the range of progressive movement of thegun is such that it may be directed to a point below the horizontal andthen elevated ,continuously to point toward and beyond a plurality ofdogs arranged in opposition to engage a notch between two teeth on oneside of the mid line when the dog on the other side of the mid line isin engagement with the outer end of a tooth.

9. In a machinegun mount, a segmental rack mounted for varyingtheelevation of the gun and provided with a peripheral mid rib and rows ofsockets and intervening teeth on opposite sides of the mid rib with thesockets and teeth on one side in alternation with those on the otherside of the mid rib, and spaced dogs in opposition on opposite sides ofthe mid rib, said dogs being adapted to the sockets between the teethwhereby one dog will enter a socket While the other dogs engage theouter ends of respective teeth,

l0. ln a machine gun mount, a segmental rack for supporting the gun andlmounted to permit variations in elevation of the gun, said rack havingperipheral seriesof sockets and intervening teeth on opposite sidesof acircumferential mid line with the sockets and teeth on one side inalternation with those on the other side of the mld l1ne,pairs ofoppositely disposed dogs on opposite sides of the mid line andconstantly constrained to enter the sockets, a rockable latch arm inposition to engage all of they dogs simultaneously, and manipulatingmeans for the latch arm for moving any one of the dogs engaged in asocket' from said socket to release the rack segment.

l1. In a machine gun mount, a segmental rack for supporting the gun andmounted to permit variations in elevatlon of the gun, said rack havingperipheral series of sockets and intervening teeth on opposite sides ofa circumferential mid line with the sockets and' teeth on one side' inalternation with those on the other side of the mid line, pairs ofoppositely disposed dogs on opposite sides of the mid line andconstantly constrained to 'enter the sockets, a rockable latch arm inposition to engage all of the dogs simultaneously, and manipulatingmeans :for the latch arm for moving any one of the dogs engaged in asocket from said socket to release 'the rack segment, said manipulatingmeans being provided with locking and releasing means whereby when themanipulating means is locked all the dogs are locked against movementinto any of the sockets.

l2. ln a machine gun mount, a rockable rack segment with means vforsupporting the gun to vary the elet/ation of the latter, said racksegment having perip eral series of sockets with intervening teeth onopposite sides of an intermediate circumferential web with the socketsand teeth on one side of the web alternating with those on the otherside of the web, a pair of latch dogs for each series of sockets withthe pairs of latch dogs on opposite sides of the inter mediate web andwith the dogs of one pair in direct opposition to those. of the other,each dog being provided with a spring constantly urging it to enter asocket, a rockable latch arm in the path of all the dogs and movable tohold the dogs from entrance into 'any socket, and` manipulating meansfor the latch'arm having means for .locking it in position to hold allthe dogs from en trance into any of the sockets.

13. ln a machine gun mount, a rockable rack segment with means forsupporting the gun to vary the elevation of the latter, said racksegment haxing peripheral series of sockets with intervening teeth onopposite sides ol an intermediate circumferential web with the socketsand `teeth on one side of the web alternating 'with those on the otherside of the web, a pair oit latch dogs for each se ries of sockets withthe pairs of latch dogs on opposite sides of the intermediate web andwith the dogs of one pair in direct opposition to those of the other,each dog being provided with a. spring constantly urging it to enter asocket, a rockable latch arm in the path of all the dogs and movable tohold the dogs from entrance into any socket, and ma nipulating means forthe latch arm having means for locking it in position to hold all thedogs from entrance into any of the sockets, said manipulating meanscomprising a rockable arm with a spring actuated latch bar and a latchlever controlling the bar, and a guide plate with a notch therein forreceiving the lock bar whereby the manipulating means may be positivelylocked in position to hold the latch arm in engagement with all the dogsto in turn hold the dogs from movement into any of the sockets.

14. In a mount for machine guns, a sup port for the gun movable about anaxis for the elevation and depression of the gun, and a carrying meansfor the said support movlo v able about an upright axis when the gun isin firing position, said support comprising a rotatable head with atapered stem and a cup with a tapered bore receiving the stem, said cuphaving means for sustaining it in a substantially upright position, saidsustaining means comprising an axial stem carrying the cup and a tripodwith a head through which the stem extends and provided with means forlocking the 4stem to the tripod at any point along the length of thestem.

, 15. In a machine gun mount, a member rockable about a substantiallyhorizontal axis for determiningthe elevation of the gun, another membercarrying the first member and rotatable about a substantially uprightaxis to permit sweeping movements of the gun, a tripod for sustaining.the gun, and an elongated stein carrying the secondnamedA member andVmovable lengthwise through the head end of the tripod and said head endbeing provided. with locking means for holding the stem to the head atany point along the lengthpof the stem.

16. A machine gun' mount having a basic support, a member carried by thebasic support and comprising a cup orsocket member with an elongatedstem movable lengthwise through the basic supportwith the latterprovided with means for locking the stem in diiere'nt positions ofelevation, another member mounted on the Vfirst-named member forrotation thereon about a substantially upright axis to provide forlsweep of the gun, and another member mounted on the second-named memberto one side of the axis of rotation of the latter and rockable upon asubstantially horizontal axis when thel axis of the second-named memberis substantially vertical, said third-named member having a range ofmovement to admit of change of elevation ofthe gun from a. point belowthe horizon to the zenith.

17. A machine gun mount comprising a tripod, a seat adjustable along oneleg of the tripod, a member having an elongated stem movable lengthwiseof the stem through the head of the tripod with the said head havingmeans for holding the stem in diierent positions of elevation, arotatable member carried by the member provided with the stem andmovable about an axis lengthwise of the stem, said member havingcarrying means erected thereon to one side of its axis of rotation, arockable member mounted in the carrying means and movable about asubstantially horizontal axis when the axis of the rotatable member isvertical, and means for attaching a machine gun-to the rockable member,said rockable member having a range of movement for the elevation of thegun'. to point toward the zenith, and the extent'of adjustment of theseat along theflength of the tripod carrying it being adaptableto theextremes of position of the gun with respect to its elevation.

18. A machine gun mount having slidablev connections between the gun andthe mount movable in the direction of the length of the gun, saidconnections comprising a block, .removable connections between the gunand block, a guide rod for the bloclrl and springs y on the rod on bothsides of-the block and engaging relatively fixed portions of the mount,whereby one spring takes up the recoil and the other spring the reboundof the gun.

19.' A machine gun mount provided with a separable support for the gunand a bolt for securing the separable parts together, A

said bolt being movable transversely of the parts and provided atl oneend with a hinged. part movable into pendent position when the bolt isin locking relation to the parts, whereby the pendentA member serves tolock the bolt against accidental withdrawal.

In testimony, that I claim the foregoing as my own, I have hereto aixedmy signature in the presence of two witnesses.

CLARK DAVID VVITHEROVV.-

Witnesses:

E. C. BUFFINGTON, FRED B. HENDERSON.

Gopies of this patent may 'be obtained for vecents each', by addressingthe Commissioner of Eatents,

' Washington, D. (2.

